Summerwood V. Kingwood V. Friendswood - Large Family Relo (Houston: for sale, crime rate)

[5 Good Reasons]

Hi, I've enjoyed reading these posts. We are looking at a possible relocation to the Greater Houston Area in summer of this year. My husband would be working in Northern Channelview. We would be moving with 5 kids.... 14, 12, 9, 4, and 2. That's 1 High School, 1 Middle, 1 Elem, 1 Pk and one home with me. I need family friendly, but most of all I need an AWESOME High School with a good football team, a good band, and a great science/math program. Budget is $350,000.

Please tell me about Summer Creek High school because I have been scared away by the ratings and other things that I have found online. Tell me about Summerwood community. I'd love to hear about traffic - if we live in Kingwood, or Down in Friendswood. Google maps put them both at 40 minute commutes - but what is traffic like, what will the commute REALLY be like?

How HOT is it - some of the websites say summer averages are only in the high 80's, but I've heard that you have spells of 100+ temps. How flood prone is Friendswood?

You can see, I have a lot of questions. This is by far the most anxiety producing thing I have ever considered. I love where I live and never wanted to leave. I'm fine for me - but I worry every second about the happiness of my kids. Trust me - I'm not looking for things to be wrong. I'm looking for people who know the area who can give me an HONEST assessment.

Thanks!!

[chris_ut]

Summerwood is a pretty small community so there is a chance no one from there is checking the board, hopefully someone will chime in with more info on the school district. I live in Kingwood but my son is in private school so I can not speak as to the schools here although I hear they are good. It gets very, very hot here in the summer. 80s is springtime weather. I have never driven to Channelview, I can tell you the commute to downtown from front of Kingwood is 30-45 minutes depending on when you leave so 40 minutes sounds about right. If you have any more specific Kingwood questions I would be happy to answer.

[lhafer]

Where are you located right now?

We live in Eagle Springs, which is about 10 minutes from Summerwood (very similar communities). I don't know anything about the Summerwood high school. I hear really good things about the Atascocita high school. My daughter just started kindergarten this year and so far we LOVE it (and so does she). It's a green school (one of the few in Texas to receive true *green* ratings and awards) - the recycle rain water, they are growing a vegetable garden, the curriculum is good, and the teachers are fantastic.

I know a lady who is on the Humble ISD school board and had her choice of schools she can send her kids to within the district. She lives in Summerwood, and is going to interview with Summerwood, Lakeshore, and Atascocita Springs Elementary (where my daughter goes). Her first choice is Atascocita Springs Elem. here in Eagle Springs.

Channelview would only be about a 20-25 minute drive from Summerwood/Eagle Springs from what my husband says (he works in a refinery which has a Channelview location - but his refinery is in the ship channel).

I don't know what websites you've been visiting where the summer temps are only in the 80's! Those are wake up temps in the summer time here. Highs are 95+ degrees in the summer. I can deal with the heat as everywhere has central AC here. But it's the humidity that gets me.

I'm not sure how flood prone Summerwood is - though I do see standing water in the medians after rains sometimes. But I don't think homes flood there. Probably occasional street flooding like you will find anywhere else in Houston after a big rain (we are not very high above sea level here so rain drains slowly). Eagle Springs doesn't have issues with flooding either.

Friendswood would probably be a reverse commute, but it's a longer distance. And no matter where you live, you will need to factor in toll road costs with your husband's commute. If you live in the northern side (summerwood/kingwood) then you could possibly get away from the toll road using back roads - but from friendswood, it would probably get quiet expensive.

For a Channelview location, I would stick with Atascocita (Summerwood/Eagle Springs/Lakeshore/Water's Edge) or Kingwood.

[archimom]

If you have any more specific Kingwood questions I would be happy to answer.[/quote]

I was reading this post and wondering if you wouldn't mind answering my questions about Kingwood?

I am interested in knowing what you think about the neighborhoods around Creekwood Middle School? I've been researching Bear Branch, Mills Branch etc. online and wondered what your opinion is of them?

How is the crime rate in Kingwood? Do you feel it is a safe community?

My children will be in 2 different schools, hubby taking the park & ride (most likely) and we are flying out in Feb. to have a look around Kingwood in person. Any light you can shed on your community would be helpful

Thanks!

[tstone]

Friendswood is certainly flood prone, esp near Clear Creek. It's a nice area though, can't go wrong there at all in your price range.

Summer temps average about 95 for a high, but that also means for every rainy day in the mid-80s there will be 2-3 hot days around 100, then throw in the humidity. Long streaks in the upper 90s is pretty usual.

From Friendswood to Channelview on the tollway will be maybe a 30 minute drive one-way, but the tolls will be about $6.50 a day, or $150/mo.

[chris_ut]

Kingwood is very safe and I have never had a problem here, we have minimal crime, maybe twice a year someone from outside of Kingwood comes in to rob a bank branch but you get that anywhere and no one has ever gotten hurt to my knowledge.

Bear Branch is a great neighborhood, it is very central, halfway between the front of Kingwood and town center. In the center is the school, a great park and the Montessori school which also has a nice playground open to the public on weekends with walking trails running throughout. Mills Branch is way in the back and does not have as much character as Bear Branch. If I was in the 150k - 250k house range Bear Branch is where I would buy in Kingwood. If you are over 250k let me know and I will suggest other neighborhoods.

[5 Good Reasons]

We are coming from PA ... we are looking to keep it under 400,000 - but we need space. As you can imagine as a family of 7 we trip over each other.

I really like Kingwood, but right now I have been having a really hard time finding new (ish) 5br for under 400k. I found something in Fall Creek that seems to fit my fancy, but again, please tell me about the schools?

By the way, can I tell you how frustrating this is from 1/2 way across the US? Again - my biggest concern is the High School ... I have one of those kids that needs to be in a good school. He's a really good kid (as you would hope with 4 little sibs) and I am most concerned about his happiness.

Thanks!! Cant wait to read more.

[chris_ut]

My comments on Bear Branch was for archimom, for a budget like yours 5 if you want new you would need to look at Barrington. Most of Kingwood was built in the 70s and 80s and there is very little new construction. Barrington is a new golf course neighborhood that is still building out and they just joined the KSA this year. Only neighborhoods who join KSA are officially part of Kingwood and can get a K sticker which allows access to Kingwood parks. Unfortunately the cheapest 5 bedroom in Barrington is 424k.

Another good neighborhood in your price range is Kings Point. It is in the back part of Kingwood through and would add to commute time. In the front part I would go with Kings Forest, the houses are older but look for a remodel the neighborhood is really nice with great lots and tons of old trees and is adjacent to Bears Branch.

[archimom]

Thank you chris_ut for your reply about Kingwood, and Bear Branch very helpful and along the lines of what I was thinking! Can't wait to come see it for myself in a couple of weeks!

As for your (5 good reasons) original question about the schools, I've been researching it a bit, and reading old posts. What I understand about Summer Creek High School is that it is less favorable to Kingwood and Kingwood Park High. It is a new school, and most of the families that live in the boundries (Eagle, Fall Creek & Summerwood) don't have children old enough for High School yet. So what HISD has done is enlarged the boundries for "now" so their enrollent is what it needs to be to fill the school. Kids from different or what others might call less desireable areas are being bused into Summer Creek, therefore making in a less desireable school for now.

I think you have to find the house that fit your needs the best, visit the school, see how you feel and I'm sure you'll find out where you need to be.

I'm worried about where to put my three kids as well, but I believe that they can make good friends (or bad) wherever they go. You just have to continue doing all you can as a parent

Good luck in your house and neighborhood hunting.....I'm right there with you!

[Andrew_Taft_Houston]

....there are a few other areas to consider, which have excellent school districts; one of which is the community of Mont Belvieu, which has the Barbers Hill school district. Mont Belvieu is due east of Channevliew, about 20 miles on the I10 freeway. fyi, the I10 east freeway going from houston to the beaumont area (and then on to New Orleans) is one of the houston freeways with the lowest amount of traffic; and no question, a 20 mile commute from the channelview area to mont belvieu would take about half the time as from channelview to kingwood. the Barbers Hill school district (or "ISD" as they are known here) brags that "every student in grades 6 - 12 has his/her own laptop used 24/7 for academic purposes." the main difference is that, while Mont Belvieu is NOT like living 'out in the sticks' - nevertheless it is a lot MORE rural and a lot LESS urban/surburban than the summerwood or kingwood or atascocita areas. there are recently built homes as well as new homes for sale in the mont belvieu area at various price ranges within your target.